Software fix for scarce items in Venezuela

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Harried Venezuelans who devote hours scouring supermarkets for increasingly scarce food basics and toilet paper have just received some digital help thanks to a young software developer.

A free application for mobile devices written by Jose Augusto Montiel lets people notify one another where flour, sugar, milk, cooking oil and toilet paper are for sale. It has been downloaded more than 12,000 times.

Abasteceme, or "Supply Me," is Android-based and relies on Google Maps for geolocation. It leverages what is known in the tech world as crowdsourcing with users notifying one another where a certain product is for sale.